GB2326322A

GB2326322A - Centrifugal brake for a fishing reel.

Info

Publication number: GB2326322A
Application number: GB9811122A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Eric Baisch
Original assignee: Penn Fishing Tackle Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Penn Fishing Tackle Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1997-06-20
Filing date: 1998-05-26
Publication date: 1998-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-26
Also published as: GB9811122D0; US5803385A; JPH1175642A; GB2326322B

Abstract

A centrifugal brake for a fishing reel comprises brake members 12 slidably mounted to a rotating member 18, the brake members being mounted so that they can engage with a stationary brake drum surface 22. Adjusting means are provided to switch the brake members between operative and non-operative states. This is achieved by means of shoulders 20 on the brake members cooperating with an internal cam surface 14 of an adjusting knob (16, Fig. 4). In the non-operative state the brake members are impeded from outward radial movement by engagement between the shoulders and the cam surface. In this state the brake members do not contact the brake drum surface. In the operative state there is no impediment to outward radial movement of the brake members and the brake members contact the drum to provide a centrifugal braking effect. In the embodiment described there are four brake members and the cam surface is profiled so that none, two or four of the brake members are operative. In this way the braking force on the reel is adjusted. Lock means (Fig. 22) are also provided to maintain the adjusting knob in one of a number of predetermined positions.

Description

1 2326322 tt CENTRIFUGAL BRAKE SYSTEM FOR FISHING REW The present

invention relates to centrifugal friction brake systems for fishing reels.

Background Art

The present invention is an improvement on an adjustable centrifugally actuated brake system such as the type comprising a rotary member rotatable in a spool transmission system and having a centrifugal brake, including a plurality of radially positioned, slidably mounted brake members and a brake shoe attached to the structure. Such a mechanism is shown, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5 393 005 dated February 28, 1995 and issued to Hideki Nakajima: See for example, Figures 2 and 7 of US Patent 5 393 005 which show the brake block (9) having a flange piece (9A). Thus the brake block (9) may be retained in non-engagement with the brake shoe (14 Figure 2) by pressing it radially inwardly so that the flange (9A) is forced past the resilient inwardly depending member (13). Alternatively if one wants to have that brake engage the shoe (14) one moves the brake block (9) past the resilient Range (13) so that it can slide between the member and the inwardly depending member (12). The brake block will slide to make contact with the brake shoe (14) upon the application of centrifugal force.

Another such system is shown in US Patent No. 3 986 678 issued October 19, 1996 to Andre'Coquelet, et al: See for example, the brake member (12) shown in Figure 2 of the US patent. This patent contemplates 2 changing the inertia-blocks or brake members (12) in order to change the amount of braking. According to this US Patent, the angler may use inertiablocks of different masses and different material. To change the inertiablock the angler removes the spool from the reel, turns the cover by a sixth of a turn in either direction and then changes the brakes. The angler then turns the cover back and the spool is replaced within the reel.

A further reel is known sold under the Registered Trade Mark ZEBCO which also has a centrifugal braking system. In accordance with the ZEBCO device, the braking members have outwardly extending centrifugal flanges which are retained in circular grooves: concentric with one another and the shaft. Adjustments in braking are made by disassembling the spool from the reel and individually moving brakes radially to different concentric grooves.

In such systems, braking force is increased or decreased as more or less brakes are brought into contact with the brake shoe, that is, the brakes are turned "on" when one ore more brakes are in contact with the shoe and turned "off" when no brakes are in contact with the shoe.

The Present Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a centrifugally actuate brake system of a fishing reel, said system having a brake drum attached to said reel, a rotary member rotatably mounted in said reel, and a centrifugal brake means mounted on said rotary member 3 and having at least one brake member radially slidably mounted thereto to engage said brake drum upon the rotation of said rotary member, wherein the brake system includes: a position maintaining and adjusting means mounted in said reel for engaging said brake member and affecting the radial position of said brake member with respect to said drum, without manual manipulation of the brake member; said position maintaining and adjusting means, comprising:

i. an adjusting knob rotatably mounted in said reel and rotatable to a plurality of predetermined positions; ii. a shoulder on said brake member; iii. a cam surface means comprising a cam surface on said adjusting knob for engaging said shoulder and positioning said brake member radially by moving said member and selectively either providing an impediment to the radial outward movement of said brake member or not impeding said radial outward movement: upon rotation of said knob; and iv. lock means to permit said knob to be rotated and to maintain said knob in any of said predetermined positions.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a centrifugally actuated brake system of a fishing reel, said system having a brake drum attached to said reel, a rotary member rotatably mounted in said reel, and a centrifugal brake means mounted on said rotary member and having plurality of brake members radially slidably mounted 4 thereto to engage said brake drum upon the rotation of said rotary member, wherein the brake system includes; a positioning maintaining and adjusting means mounted in said reel for engaging said brake members and affecting the radial position of said brake members with respect to said drum, without manual manipulation of the brake members; said position maintaining and adjusting means, comprising:

ii.

an adjusting knob rotatably mounted in said reel and rotatable to a plurality of predetermined positions; each of said brake members having a shoulder thereon; iii. a cam surface means comprising a cam surface on said adjusting knob for engaging said shoulders and positioning said brake members radially by moving said members and/or providing an impediment to the radial outward movement of said brake members and/or not impeding said radial outward movement; upon rotation of said knob; and iv. lock means to permit said knob to be rotated and to maintain said knob in said predetermined positions.

In prior art devices, there is a need for manual manipulation of individual brake members, and the present invention serves to eliminate that need. The present invention provides a means for adjusting the centrifugal brake force through a cam which can be rotated to various positions to turn "on" or "off" various numbers of the brakes. In accordance with the present invention, the angler, upon disassembling the spool from the reel is able to simply grab a knob with his or her fingers and rotate it. Within the knob, the cam surface has shoulders upon which the brakes may or may not rest in their active position, i.e. when the spool is turning. When the knob is rotated, the surface engages the shoulders and moves then radially or disengages from the shoulders. The shoulders are similar to cam followers, except that in the present invention, the cam surface may or may not provide "limits" to brake movement.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawin

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a fishing reel showing radially positioned brakes, a knob with an internal cam surface, and brake shoulders in position against said surface in accordance with this invention; with the brakes in an "all on" position; Figure 2 is a top view of the device as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device as shown in Figure 1 with the parts reoriented; Figure 4 is a top view of the device as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device as shown in Figure 1 with the parts reoriented; Figure 6 is a top view of the device as shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown in the previous Figures; 6 Figure 8 is a plan view of the part shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of a brake member; Figure 10 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a bottom view of the device as shown in Figure 9; Figure 12 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 9; Figure 13 is an enlarged edge view showing the relationship between the parts shown in Figures 1 through 12; Figure 14 is a side view taken from the left of the parts shown in Figure 13; Figure 15 is a section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows 15- in Figure 13; Figure 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 1; Figure 17 is a front view of the device shown in Figure 16; Figure 18 is a side view of the device shown in Figure 16; Figure 19 is an exploded view showing the relationship between the parts shown in the previous Figures; Figure 20 is a side view of the assembled parts shown in the previous Figures; Figure 21 is a section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows 21- 21 in Figure 20; and Figure 22 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the parts shown in the centre in Figure 2 1.

Description Of The Preferred Embodiment

7 Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the improved centrifugal brake system of the present invention is shown in the body of a fishing reel designated generally 10. This shows a plurality of brake members 12 in contact with the brake drum surface 22 and each having shoulders 20 for engaging the surface 14 of a knob 16. Each of the brake members 12 is generally cylindrical and is in sliding engagement with a radially extending pin 18 fixedly mounted to a ring 21 (Figure 19) and has an axially extending shoulder 20, Figure 10, to engage the surface 14. The leading end 19 (Figure 10) of the brake member 12 engages the brake drum surface 22. In the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, all the brakes are "on". Thus, the leading ends of all four brakes contact the brake drum surface for maximum spool braking. In this position, the surface 14 is sufficiently relieved to allow all of the brakes to extend fully into engagement with the drum 22.

Figures 3 and 4 show the position of the parts when the adjusting knob 16 is rotated 30 degrees counterclockwise and locks into a new position. As this rotation is in progress, the cam surface 14 engages the shoulders 20 of two of the brake members 12 and forces them radially inwardly. In this position, two brakes are 'on" the two brakes are "off". As clearly shown the top and bottom (when viewed as in Figure 4) brakes still engage the brake drum surface 22, while the left and right brakes do not. This is because the surface 14 limits the travel of the horizontally disposed brake members 12; since the shoulders 20 of those brakes rest against the surface 14. Thus, the top and bottom brake members are 'on" and the left and right brake members are "off".

8 When the knob 16 is rotated an additional 30 degrees, the knob will lock into another position wherein all four brakes are "off", that is are not engaged with the brake drum surface 22 (as clearly shown in Figure 6). As this rotation occurs, the cam surface engages the shoulders of the remaining two brake members and forces them radially inwardly. Thus, none of the brakes can act to slow the spool down by contacting the brake drum surface 22.

An individual brake member 12 is shown in greater detail in Figures 9 to 12. There it will be noted that the generally cylindrical brake member has a leading end 19 for engaging the brake shoe and a trailing end having a flange or shouldered portion 200; leading and trailing being relative terms having to do with the radial position of the brake member 12 on the pin 18. A shoulder or flange 200 is the preferred shape of the shoulder 20 shown in Figures 1 to 6. The pin 18 fits into a hole 23 (Figure 9) with sliding engagement, so that as centrifugal forces are applied, the brake member 12 moves radially outwardly preceded by the leading end 19 and followed by the trailing end flange 200. The flange 200 is most preferably disposed along approximately 180 degrees of the trailing end of the brake member 12. The flange 200 has an arcuate shape as shown in Figure 11. This arcuate shape provides for ease in movement along the surface 14 of the knob 16. The surface 14 is shown in greater detail in Figures 7, 8 14 and 15. The position of the brake member 12 and, in particular, the relationship between its shoulder 200 and the arcuate surface thereof with respect to the surface 14 is shown in Figures 14 and 15.

9 As set forth above, when the knob 16 is rotated, it locks into different positions. This locking mechanism is provided by a slip ratchet means designated generally 27 in Figure 22. This slip ratchet means is mounted on a gear 29 which has fixedly attached to it in any suitable manner a ring support 2 1, (Figure 18). The gear 29 has a square axial hole 33 (Figure 16) therein for mounting on a square portion of the spool shaft of the reel, to provide for rotation with the support on the shaft (not shown, but known in the art).

The knob 16 has an axially concentrically disposed axially extending inner shoulder 45, (Figures 7, 8 and 22). This shoulder's inner surface 36 has a plurality of detents 30 spaced thereabout at 30 degree intervals (see Figures 8, 14 and 22).

The ring 21 (Figures 16 to 19) has a plurality of upraised lock members 35 extending axially therefrom. Each of these lock members has a protrusion 32, (Figures 16 and 17), extending radially therefrom; positioned to engage a detent 30 within and along the inner surface 36 of the shoulder 45. Each protrusion 32 is positioned and dimension with respect to the detent 30 and the inner surface 36, such as to fit with an interface fit; as shown in detail in Figure 22. In accordance with established engineering practices, an interference fit can be designed and provided, and in this case is designed, such that the application of rotational force manually by the tips of the fingers of the angler of the knurled outside surface 25 (Figure 8) of the knob 16 will cause the detents 30 to move out of engagement with the protrusions 32 and those protrusions can thus be slipped along the surface 36 until the protrusion 32 slips into the next detent 30 and locks the knob 16 in the next position. Of course, this rotation can be moved past the next detent to the one following, such as, for example, if one wishes to move from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 5 without permanently remaining in the position shown in Figure 3.

The relative positioning of the protrusions with the detents is shown in the detail view given by Figure 22.

Thus the present invention provides in a centrifugally actuated brake system of a fishing reel, having a brake drum attached to said reel, a rotary member rotatably mounted in said reel, and a centrifugal brake means mounted on said rotary member and having at least one brake member radialy slidably mounted thereto to engage said brake drum upon the rotation of said rotary member, the improvement comprising: a position maintaining and adjusting means mounted in said reel for engaging said brake member and affecting the radial position of said brake member with respect to said drum, without manual manipulation of the brake member, said position maintaining and adjusting means, comprising an adjusting knob rotatably mounted in said reel and rotatable to a plurality of predetermined positions; a shoulder on said brake member; a cam surface means comprising a cam surface on said adjusting knob for engaging said shoulder and positioning said brake member radially by moving said member and/or providing an impediment to the radial outward movement of said brake member and/or not impeding said radial outward movement: upon rotation of said knob, and lock means to permit said knob to be rotated and to maintain said knob in said predetermined positions. In this system, the lock means most preferably comprises at least one lock member fixedly attached to said rotary member; and engagement/ disengagement means mounted on said knob to engage with and disengage from said lock member. Most preferably, the shoulder on said brake member is arcuate in shape along the portion thereof which is to be engaged by the cam surface.

The cam surface is so configurated that in a first predetermined position all of said brake members are unimpeded thereby in radially outward movement and in a second predetermined position some of said brake members are unimpeded thereby in radially outward movement and others are not impeded thereby in radially outward movement and in a third predetermined position all of said brake members are impeded thereby in radially outward movement.

Operation In operation, the rotation of the centrifugal-adjusting knob 16 makes for a smooth transition from either all brakes "on" all brakes "ofr, or some brakes "on" and some brakes 'oX; without the need for individual manual manipulation of the brake member 12.

12

Claims

1. A centrifugally actuated break system of a fishing reel, said system having a brake drum attached to said reel, a rotary member rotatably mounted in said reel, and a centrifugal brake means mounted on said rotary member and having at least one brake member radially slidably mounted thereto to engage said brake drum upon the rotation of said rotary member, wherein the brake system includes: a position maintaining and adjusting means mounted in said reel for engaging said brake member and affecting the radial position of said brake member with respect to said drum, without manual manipulation of the brake member; said position maintaining and adjusting means, comprising: an adjusting knob rotatably mounted in said reel and rotatable to a plurality of predetermined positions; ii. a shoulder on said brake member; a cam surface means comprising a cam surface on said adjusting knot for engaging said shoulder and positioning said brake member radially by moving said member and selectively either providing an impediment to the radial outward movement of said brake member or not impeding said radial outward movement; upon rotation of said knob;and lock means to permit said knob to be rotated and to maintain said knob in any of said predetermined positions.

i.

iii.

iv.

13

2. The brake system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lock means comprises at least one lock member fixedly attached to said rotary member, and engagement/ disengagement means mounted on said knob to engage with and disengage from said lock member.

3. The brake system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said shoulder on said brake member is arcuate in shape along the portion thereof which is to be engaged by the cam surface.

4. A centrifugally actuated brake system of a fishing reel, said system having a brake drum attached to said reel, a rotary member rotatably mounted in said reel, and a centrifugal brake means mounted on said rotary member and having plurality of brake members radially slidably mounted thereto to engage said brake drum upon the rotation of said rotary member, wherein the brake system includes: a position maintaining and adjusting means mounted in said reel for engaging said brake members and affecting the radial position of said brake members with respect to said drum, without manual manipulation of the brake members: said position maintaining and adjusting means, comprising i. an adjusting knob rotatably mounted in said reel and rotatable to a plurality of predetermined positions; ii. each of said brake members having a shoulder thereon; iii. a cam surface means comprising a cam surface on said adjusting knob for engaging said shoulders and positioning said brake members radially by moving said members and/or providing 14 an impediment to the radial outward movement of said brake members and/or not impeding said radial outward movement; upon rotation of said knob; and iv. lock means to permit said knob to be rotated and to maintain said knob in said predetermined positions.

5. The brake system as claimed in claim 4 wherein said lock means comprises at least one lock member fixedly attached to said rotary member; and engagement/ disengagement means mounted on said knob to engage with and disengage from said lock member.

6. The brake system as claimed in claims 4 or 5 wherein each of said shoulders on said brake members is arcuate in shape along the portion thereof which is to be engaged by the cam surface.

7. The brake system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein said cam surface is so configured that in a predetermined position all of said brake members are unimpeded thereby in radially outward movement.

8. The brake system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the carn surface is so configured that in a predetermined position some of said brake members are unimpeded thereby in radially outward movement.

9. The brake system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the cam surface is so configured that in a first predetermined position all of said brake members are unimpeded thereby in radially outward movement and in a second predetermined position some of said brake members are unimpeded thereby in radially outward movement and others are not impeded thereby in radially outward movement.

10. The brake system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the cam surface is so configured that in a first predetermined position all of said brake members are unimpeded thereby in radially outward movement and in a second predetermined position some of said brake members are unimpeded thereby in radially outward movement and others are not impeded thereby in radially outward movement and in a third predetermined position all of said brake members are impeded thereby in radially outward movement.

11. The brake system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said lock member is an interference fit with said engagement/ disengagement means.

12. The brake system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said lock member is in interference fit with said engagement/ disengagement means.

13. The brake system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said lock member has a protrusion thereon and said engagement/ disengagement means has a surface therein for engaging with said protrusion.

16

14. The brake system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said lock member has a protrusion thereon and said engagement/ disengagement means has a surface with a detent therein for engaging with said protrusion.

15. The brake system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said lock member has a protrusion thereon and said engagement/ disengagement means has a surface with a plurality of detents therein for engaging with said protrusion in a plurality of rotation of said knob.

16. The brake system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said lock member has a protrusion thereon and said engagement/ disengagement means has a surface with a plurality of detents therein for engaging with said protrusion in a plurality of positions of rotation of said knob.

17. The brake system as claimed in any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein said lock means comprises a plurality of lock members fixedly attached to said rotary member, each of said lock members having a protrusion thereon; and engagement/ disengagement means mounted on said knob to engage with and disengage from said lock members; said lock members being in interference fit therewith; and said engagement/ disengagement means has a surface with a plurality of detents therein for engaging with said protrusion in a plurality of positions of rotation of said knob.

18. The brake system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 10 wherein said lock means comprises a plurality of lock members fixedly attached to 17 said rotary member, each of said lock members having a protrusion thereon; and engagement/ disengagement means mounted on said knob to engage with and disengage from said lock members; said lock members being in interface fit therewith; and said engagement/ disengagement means has a surface with a plurality of detents therein for engaging with said protrusions in a plurality of positions of rotation of said knob.

19. A centrifugally actuated brake system for a fishing reel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.